WHO WE ARE

Our Mission

What is CCM Reunion? We celebrate the artists, musicians, fans, and songs of contemporary Christian music through concerts and community outreach.

Our Story

“Contemporary Christian music was birthed during the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s. Somehow, this small-town preacher’s kid who liked to sing and play guitar found himself right in the middle of it. Some have called us pioneers, but really, we were just trying to reach and encourage the young people in our community with music they could relate to. Now, after a music career spanning four decades, singing around the world and receiving an honor or two along the way, I find myself turning back to the roots of my CCM experience: an authentic, heart-felt expression of faith through music.” —Grammy Award-winning recording artist Tim Archer

ARTISTS

The Archers

If you know anything about the beginnings of contemporary Christian music and pop-Gospel, then you know about The Archers. The legacy and influence of the iconic trio remain strong to this day.

The Archers grew up in church. As preachers kids, they saw first-hand how music moved people. By their mid-teens, Tim and Steve were singing as The Archer Brothers. They even won second place in a national singing competition. Soon they caught the attention of Gospel great Andraé Crouch, pop icon Pat Boone and Light Records founder Ralph Carmichael. In 1977 Janice Archer joined her brothers, adding to The Archers’ signature family-harmony blend.

The Archers

If you know anything about the beginnings of contemporary Christian music and pop-Gospel, then you know about The Archers. The legacy and influence of the iconic trio remain strong to this day.

The Archers grew up in church. As preachers kids, they saw first-hand how music moved people. By their mid-teens, Tim and Steve were singing as The Archer Brothers. They even won second place in a national singing competition. Soon they caught the attention of Gospel great Andraé Crouch, pop icon Pat Boone and Light Records founder Ralph Carmichael. In 1977 Janice Archer joined her brothers, adding to The Archers’ signature family-harmony blend.

As CCM pioneers, The Archers were among the first to incorporate electronic accompaniment, a rarity in Christian music at the time. They were unplugged. They were asked to change their clothes. But the undeniable appeal of their strong, lyrical songs and fresh vocal arrangements soon won over those critics. As a part of The Jesus Movement, The Archers, along with other early contemporary Christian artists, witnessed millions come to Christ in a movement that significantly impacted modern culture.

Career highlights include performing at the Jesus Music Festivals, the White House, Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. The Archers also performed on the Grammy Awards Telecast two years in a row, sharing the stage with Dony McGuire, Reba Rambo, Andraé Crouch, B.J. Thomas, Cynthia Clawson, Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, The Crusaders, Al Green and Joe Cocker. The Archers took home a Grammy for their contribution to “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Come see “the group that virtually defined contemporary Christian music in the seventies” at the inaugural CCM Reunion concert.

Evie Tornquist Karlsson

According to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, “Before there was Amy Grant, there was Evie.” Evie Tornquist Karlsson, known by her fans as simply “Evie,” was the first female pop star of contemporary Christian music. She is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and a two time Dove Award winner for Female Vocalist of the Year. With over 30 albums and three Grammy nominations to her credit, Evie’s classic CCM hits include “Clean Before My Lord,” “Pass It On,” “Give Them All,” “Mirror,” “Come On Ring Those Bells,” and “How I Love the Lord.”

Evie Tornquist Karlsson

According to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, “Before there was Amy Grant, there was Evie.” Evie Tornquist Karlsson, known by her fans as simply “Evie,” was the first female pop star of contemporary Christian music. She is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and a two time Dove Award winner for Female Vocalist of the Year. With over 30 albums and three Grammy nominations to her credit, Evie’s classic CCM hits include “Clean Before My Lord,” “Pass It On,” “Give Them All,” “Mirror,” “Come On Ring Those Bells,” and “How I Love the Lord.”

Born in the United States to Norwegian immigrants, Evie began her singing career as a young teenager while visiting her parents’ homeland. She released her English language debut album at age 16 in 1972 and went on to release more that 30 albums, including several in Scandinavian languages.

“With a sweet, refreshing voice and an audible smile, Evie’s unique sound and tender spirit made her one of the most-loved and most-recognized voices in Christian music during the 1970s and early ‘80s.” —Emily Sutherland, Homecoming Magazine Hall of Honor

Cheri Keaggy

Beginning as a worship leader at a small church in Southern California, veteran CCM artist Cheri Keaggy has ministered through music and testimony for over twenty years. Her debut album, Child of the Father, released to rave reviews in 1994, earning her a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year. Nine albums, nine number one songs, three Dove Award nominations and a Dove Award win later, Keaggy continues to be a mainstay on Adult Contemporary and Inspirational radio, while congregations the world over sing her songs, including “There is Joy in the Lord” and “In Remembrance of Me,” during church services. Songs she wrote for her children have emerged as favorites at women’s events through the years (MOPS, Hearts at Home, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Family Life Ministries).

Cheri Keaggy

Beginning as a worship leader at a small church in Southern California, veteran CCM artist Cheri Keaggy has ministered through music and testimony for over twenty years. Her debut album, Child of the Father, released to rave reviews in 1994, earning her a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year. Nine albums, nine number one songs, three Dove Award nominations and a Dove Award win later, Keaggy continues to be a mainstay on Adult Contemporary and Inspirational radio, while congregations the world over sing her songs, including “There is Joy in the Lord” and “In Remembrance of Me.” Likewise, songs she wrote for her children have emerged as favorites with organizations such as MOPS, Hearts at Home, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Family Life Ministries, and Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Often with her Bible and journal close at hand, Keaggy takes a teachable approach to life sharing her experiences through songwriting, speaking, blogging, and one-on-one encounters on the road. She has partnered with Food for the Hungry, Lifesong for Orphans, and the Nashville Rescue Mission. Through TV appearances such as Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise the Lord and LeSEA Broadcasting’s The Harvest Show, and radio interviews like Moody Broadcasting’s Chris Fabry Live and Family Radio Network’s Life, Love, and Family with Dr. Tim Clinton of the American Association of Christian Counselors, Keaggy never misses an opportunity to testify to Christ’s work and healing in her life. Her love for Him and passion for God’s Word is evident to all who meet her.

“I’ve often said when we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of Jesus,” Keaggy says. “And He’s so faithful to meet us. Jesus is everything to me and it has been a joy to tell my ‘God stories’ wherever He opens the door. If He can use my struggles to make me more effective for the Kingdom, that’s what I want. I give Him my life to use however He sees fit.”

Farrell & Farrell

It was during the Jesus Movement of the early 70s that the seeds of what would become Farrell & Farrell were sown, as the husband-wife duo began traveling and singing all over the US and other artists began recording Bob’s songs.In 1978 the duo released Farrell & Farrell, its first single “Earthmaker” going to #1 on Christian radio. Farrell & Farrell continued to travel internationally until 1991, being one of the first to take CCM to Australia and the Eastern Communist Block – including thirty shows in Moscow and Leningrad in 1988, a year before the Berlin Wall came down.

Farrell & Farrell

It was during the Jesus Movement of the early 70s that the seeds of what would become Farrell & Farrell were sown, as the huband-wife duo began traveling and singing all over the US and other artists began recording Bob’s songs.In 1978 the duo released Farrell & Farrell, its first single “Earthmaker” going to #1 on Christian radio. Farrell & Farrell continued to travel internationally until 1991, being one of the first to take CCM to Australia and the Eastern Communist Block – including thirty shows in Moscow and Leningrad in 1988, a year before the Berlin Wall came down.

Farrell & Farrell’s eight albums produced numerous #1 songs, such as “People in a Box” and “Boundless Love”.Their music has always enjoyed very broad-demographic appeal – and it is widely accepted that Farrell & Farrell introduced techno into the Christian-music genre with their ground-breaking 1984 album, Choices.

Fast forward to 2017: Farrell & Farrell have decided to begin performing again.“Our motivation to return to performing live concerts is essentially mentoring: sharing our insights from ministry experience that dates from 1971,” says Bob, “and our own life lessons from almost 50 years of marriage.It’s not about financial gain or empire building – it’s about kingdom building.We want to challenge and remind folks of some die-hard precepts – of being salt and light – that were endemic to the last great revival in the USA, the Jesus Movement of the early 70s.Jayne and I were both saved as a direct result of that move of God.”

In addition to concerts, Jayne is available to teach her Inner Healing Therapy seminar, and Bob his Songwriter Bootcamp.